FR2871123A1 - ARRANGEMENT FOR PROTECTING THE KNEES OF AN OCCUPANT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND DASHBOARD - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an arrangement for protecting a front passenger's knees (104) comprising an absorption plate (14) whereof the central part is rigidly supported by a central element (22) and whereof each lateral part, left or right, is rigidly supported, in the vicinity of its lateral end away from the central part, by an associated lateral element (24, 26) extending in a vertical and longitudinal lateral plane such that each lateral part is capable of being substantially deformed over its entire height perpendicular to a knee or an associated shin (108).

Description

"Arrangement for protecting the knees of an occupant of a vehicle

  automobile and dashboard for such an arrangement "

  The present invention relates to an arrangement for protecting the knees of a front occupant of a motor vehicle.

  The invention relates more particularly to an arrangement for the protection of the driver or a front passenger of a vehicle whose cockpit is equipped with a dashboard.

  The dashboard is a structural assembly comprising equipment and accessories and which delimits the passenger compartment longitudinally forward for the driver and the front passenger (s).

  On the driver's side, the dashboard extends in particular transversely over the assembly of the steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column.

  Modern vehicles must meet increasingly stringent and standardized requirements for passive safety, occupant protection, especially for the driver and one or more front passengers.

  With regard to the protection of the driver of the vehicle, passive safety arrangements and devices are already known which allow the removal of the steering wheel and / or the inflation of an airbag which effectively damps the shock of the driver against the front part. of the vehicle, in particular the dashboard arranged in the upper part of the dashboard, against the steering wheel and / or the windshield.

  In order to protect the lower limbs of the front occupants, and in particular the knees and lower part of the lower limbs which extends below the knees, different types of arrangements and devices, including passive, knee protection devices have already been proposed. by energy absorption, in case of impact or impact of the knee and shin equipment of the cabin, and in particular against the lower part of the dashboard.

  A first solution is described and represented in document FR-A-1. 115.317 which consists of a shock absorbing protective bead which is for example made of foam rubber and which extends transversely over the entire length of an edge of the dashboard substantially to the right of the knees.

  Such an arrangement does not make it possible to meet the current standard io requirements, and in particular those defined in the ECE94 standard.

  In order to "manage" the impact of a knee shock against the dashboard side, without the use of costly arrangements, devices or systems such as airbags or gear mechanisms tension of the safety belt, it has been necessary to improve the design of the lower part or lower part of the actual dashboard by incorporating, by design and structure, an absorption element of energy by plastic deformation under the impact of the occupant's knees when they are moving globally longitudinally forward towards the lower part of the dashboard, especially when the vehicle is subjected to an impact.

  The concept of relative displacement means the consequences inherent to the relative displacement of the occupant with respect to his seat and / or the relative displacement of the front part of the passenger compartment, and in particular of the dashboard, towards the rear towards the seat of the occupant concerned.

  The zone to be protected constituted by the two knees of an occupant is very extended laterally, that is to say in the transverse general direction of the vehicle, and the means for this purpose must preferably have a different stiffness in the vertical direction , in particular according to the sections or sections of the different segments of the lower part of the leg extending from the knee, including the latter.

  The rigid structural elements of the front part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and in particular of the dashboard, consist essentially of a beam or transverse crossbar arranged in a high position which serves in particular for fixing the dashboard and the steering assembly, especially the steering column.

  This cross is located high enough to make complex and difficult attachment and attachment of a protective device for the knees and shins of the legs.

  The steering column itself, which extends longitudinally in a vertical plane, forwards and downwards, is a very rigid and almost fixed element which, with regard to the driver, must be "avoided" by the driver's knees.

  It is almost impossible to arrange protection elements on the steering column that provide effective protection of the knees and lower legs.

  Document FR-A-2,726,520 describes and represents in this respect an arrangement for protecting the lower limbs of the conductor comprising a support cross member fixed to the vehicle structure to support the steering assembly and which has the form of a V with branches curved so as to laterally deflect the trajectory of the driver's lower limbs in the event of impact or impact of the vehicle against an obstacle.

  However, such a device does not ensure sufficient energy absorption, nor guide the knees and shins in the transverse direction, that is to guide each lower part of a leg so that it remains globally in the same vertical plane.

  The document FR-A-2,194,593 describes and represents a protection device consisting of a lower portion of the dashboard proper which is an arrangement for the protection of the knees and shins.

  The protective element extends transversely in the passenger compartment of the vehicle facing the knees and the upper part of the shin of the occupant, here the driver.

  This protection element comprises a central portion rigidly supported by a vehicle element constituted by the steering column to prevent deformation of the central portion.

  The protective device constituting the energy absorption element by plastic deformation finally comprises two opposite lateral parts, left or right, which are interconnected by the central part.

  Each lateral portion extends facing one knee and the upper portion of the tibia of an associated leg, left or right respectively, of the driver.

  Each of the lateral parts is rigidly supported by a structural element of the vehicle so as to form a deformable portion of energy absorption.

  However, the solution proposed in this document is not satisfactory insofar as each of the lateral parts (see FIGS. 6 and 7 of the document) is rigidly supported by its upper and lower longitudinal edges of substantially horizontal transverse orientation.

  Such a design has the disadvantage of having too great rigidity in the portion or zone of the lateral portion located in a vertical plane to the right knee and tibia corresponding and thus does not allow sufficient energy absorption, while having a risk of impact or impact against particularly rigid parts that could cause injury.

  In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes an arrangement for knee protection of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the absorption element is in the general form of a lower plate, in that the central part of the absorption plate is rigidly supported by a central support element which extends generally in a vertical and longitudinal central plane, and in that each lateral part, left or right, of the absorption plate is rigidly supported in the vicinity its lateral end remote from the central part, by an associated lateral support member which extends in a vertical and longitudinal lateral plane so that each lateral part, left or right, of the absorption plate is susceptible to freely deform substantially over its entire height to progressively constitute a pocket of absorption and deformation of section, by a substantially horizontal plane ntal, in the form of a semi-circle or U and without corresponding rigid obstacle, and in particular in the lower and / or upper position in the relevant area of the knee and associated tibia.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: the central support element is a portion of the steering column which equips the driving position of the vehicle; - The dashboard has a horizontal top rail to which are fixed the support elements of the absorption plate; the dashboard comprises a skin of which at least a portion extends facing the lower part of the members to be protected, and the absorption plate constitutes a lining of the said portion of the skin of the dashboard; the lining absorption plate is assembled to said portion of the skin of the dashboard; the absorption plate has a curved profile, of substantially horizontal transverse axis, with its convexity oriented toward the occupant's knees; the absorption plate is made by plastic molding; - Each lateral support member is a metal flange which extends substantially in a longitudinal and vertical plane.

  The invention also proposes a motor vehicle dashboard for a protection arrangement according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a skin and in that the absorption plate constitutes a lining of at least a portion of the skin of the dashboard.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed reading for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view which illustrates the part of the board on the driver's side with its protective lining plate and the lower part of the driver's body; - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view which illustrates the dashboard with its protection plate according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the portion of the outer skin of the driver's side dashboard with its lining protection plate; FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the portion of the rigid structure of the driver's side dashboard; FIG. 5 is a perspective view which illustrates the portion of the rigid structure of the driver's side dashboard in association with the protection board according to the teachings of the invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the protection plate according to the invention; - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the protection plate according to the invention according to another angle of view; FIG. 8 is a perspective view which illustrates on a large scale a detail of the arrangement of the lining plate with respect to the left lateral support flange; FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the relative longitudinal displacement of the lower part of the driver's body relative to the dashboard in the event of impact or impact, particularly in the event of an accident; - Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view of the dashboard by a vertical longitudinal plane adjacent to the flange side support right side; - Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view of the dashboard by a vertical longitudinal plane corresponding to the middle plane of the steering column.

  In the following description, identical, analogous or similar elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

  In order to facilitate the understanding of the description and the claims, the terms horizontal, vertical, longitudinal, transverse, left, right, upper, upper, lower, lower, etc., will be adopted. with reference to the various conventional orientations of a vehicle and figures and with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures. The L axis is oriented towards the front of the vehicle while the axis is oriented towards the left of the vehicle by considering the forward direction of the vehicle which is here a vehicle with driving position on the left.

  The exterior of the cockpit shall also be referred to as the whole area lying longitudinally forwards beyond the rear face of the dashboard and inside the cockpit, the entire rear area delimited by the same rear face and corresponding to the inside the cockpit.

  FIGS. 1 to 5 show in particular the left part of the dashboard 10 which is here arranged in line with the driver of the vehicle, and therefore with the right of the steering column which essentially comprises a rigid structure 11, the skin 12 of the dashboard 10, and the plate 14 of energy absorption protection which is performed according to the teachings of the invention and which is a lining of the skin 12 of the dashboard.

  The plate 14 extends facing the concave inner lateral face of the corresponding lower part of the skin 12 of the dashboard.

  The rigid structure 11 consists essentially of an upper transverse horizontal tube or upper cross member 18, a left-hand portion of which includes a horizontal platinum-shaped metal support 20 on which is fixed or suspended the steering column 22 (shown in FIG. Figure 1) of the vehicle.

  As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the upper cross member 18 which carries the support 20 of the steering column 22 carries a left vertical flange 24 and a vertical right side flange 26 located on either side of the steering column 22.

  The left side flange 24 is generally in the form of a vertical plate of longitudinal orientation which is, in the sense of the invention, a lateral structural support element of the lining 14 of absorption protection.

  Similarly, the right vertical flange 26, which also extends in a vertical and longitudinal plane, constitutes the right side support element for the absorption plate 14 within the meaning of the invention.

  Within the meaning of the invention, the central support element intended to rigidly support the central portion of the protective plate 14 is constituted by the actual steering column 22 which extends, like the lateral flanges 24 on the left, and 26 on the right, in a vertical and longitudinal orientation plane.

  The left-hand lateral supports 24 and the right-hand supports 26 are fixed at their respective upper ends 28 and 30 to the corresponding section of the upper cross-member 18 of the rigid structure 11 and, at their respective lower ends 32 and 34, to non-structural elements. represented by the vehicle body.

  As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the skin 12 of the dashboard 10 is generally in the form of a set or shell which is made by plastic molding, in one or more assembled parts, and which consists essentially of a main wall of transverse orientation which extends vertically from top to bottom and which has a curved profile in a cylinder arc of horizontal axis whose convexity is directed towards the rear in the direction from the inside of the passenger compartment, and therefore the occupants of the front part of the vehicle.

  The upper part or upper part 36 of the instrument panel dashboard can receive many equipment including dials and / or air vents (not shown), while the lower part or lower part has a portion overall left 38 located at the right of the lower limbs of the driver and a right portion 40 located generally to the right of the lower limbs of the front passenger right, these two left side portions 38 and right 40 being separated by a central portion 42 for receive other equipment such as a car radio.

  In the example illustrated in the figures, it is the lower left portion of the dashboard 10 located at the driver's right which is equipped with an absorption device 14 according to the teachings of the invention.

  The lower left portion extends generally between the two lateral flanges forming vertical supports 24 and 26 described above.

  The dashboard 10 is also closed at both ends by two left vertical left 44 and right 286 lateral cheeks which extend over the entire height of the dashboard.

  The plate 14 constituting the driver's knee protector 102 in accordance with the teachings of the invention constitutes a liner of the left side portion 38 of the lower portion of the dashboard.

  The protection plate is illustrated in FIG. 5 in association with the rigid structure 11 consisting essentially of the upper cross member 18 and the two left vertical lateral flanges 24 and 26 on the left.

  The protection plate 14 is generally rectangular in outline and has a curve complementary to that of the concave outer face 39 of the left portion 38 of the lower part of the skin of the dashboard.

  The convex rear face 15 of the plate 14 extends opposite the concave face 39 and the plate 14 has a concave front face 13.

  The two faces 13 and 15 are ribbed by a network of reinforcing ribs 48 to give it sufficient rigidity, especially for its embodiment by molding and to control its energy absorption capacity.

  In its central portion 14C, and in the upper part, the protective plate 14 has a bulge 49 oriented towards the front delimited by a horizontal plate 50, a substantially vertical plate before 52 and two left side cheeks 54 and right 56.

  The bulge 49 constitutes a rigid base which comprises, at its upper and rear end, a rectangular parallelepipedal portion vertically projecting upwardly forming a stopper 58.

  The bulge 49 is connected to the remainder of the plate 14 by vertical ribs 60 of reinforcement and stiffening.

  The protection plate 14 is delimited by its lower horizontal transverse edges 62 and upper 64 and by its two lateral edges of left vertical orientation 66 and right 68. These four peripheral edges are also ribbed.

  Beyond its right lateral edge 68, the protective plate or lining 14 comprises a bearing or abutment lug 70 which protrudes transversely towards the right and which is intended, by its notched zone 71, to come into cooperation with a portion opposite the vertical edge right lateral flange 26 forming rigid support support for the plate 14, in the event of impact or shock so that the protective plate 14 is rigidly supported substantially along its length. vertical straight edge 68 of the lateral end.

  In the same way, in the vicinity of its left vertical lateral edge 66 and in the upper part of the plate, the latter comprises a solid zone of support or abutment 74 which extends opposite a tab 76 of a shape complementary part belonging to the left lateral flange 24 constituting the left lateral support support for the absorption plate 14.

  In the mounted position of the assembly and in the new state, that is to say before any shock, there is preferably a clearance between the lug 70 and the part vis-à-vis the support or lateral flange right 26 and the same clearance, generally in the longitudinal direction, between the tab 76 of the flange or left lateral support 24 and the bearing or abutment portion 74 vis-à-vis the protective plate 14.

  Similarly, the stopper 58 carried by the bulge 49 extends facing a corresponding portion 23 vis-à-vis the steering column 22, preferably also with a slight clearance in the transverse direction (see Figure II ).

  The presence of the games, in the longitudinal direction, which have just been mentioned between the corresponding parts of the protection plate 14 and the associated rigid structural elements 22, 24 and 26 makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid noise by contacts or vibration shocks during the normal running of the vehicle and it allows, on the other hand, to provide some elasticity during the initial phase of contact of the knees 102 against the skin 12 of the dashboard which is doubled by the protection plate 14, before the latter comes into contact with its structural supports which are three in number with a central structural support of vertical orientation 22 and two left lateral structural supports 24 and right 26 of vertical orientation.

  Along its four edges, the protective liner plate 14 has numerous attachment points 78 on the skin 12. The lining plate 14 is thus fixed to the skin 12, 38 which carries it in the functional position, it is to say in the pre-shock position illustrated in the figures.

  The plate 14 is thus very easy to make by molding and to assemble on the dashboard.

  Thanks to the arrangement according to the invention we obtain a very good controlled deformation of the corresponding area of the dashboard with a guide of the knees 102 and shins 108 in areas of the dashboard and the absorption plate 14 forming liner in which there is no rigid member or member capable of inducing injury to these parts of the lower limbs of the driver.

  The design according to the invention of the protection plate 14 by absorption with the particular arrangement of its support elements 22, 24 and 26 against which it bears longitudinally forwards in the event of impact, thus allows to "program "the deformation of the areas of the dashboard facing the lower parts of the legs so, on the one hand, to absorb sufficient energy and, on the other hand, avoid contact with the rigid parts, as well as with the actual steering column 22 to the extent that the central portion of the plate 14C, which is made integrally in one piece by molding with the left side portions 14G and right 14D, constitutes a coating plate and dressing which also allows to deflect the knees 102 towards the active side portions 14G and 14D which are freely deformed between, on the one hand, the steering column 22 and, on the other hand, the flanges or lateral supports vertica left 24 and right 26.

  As can be seen in FIG. 9, in the initial position PO before impact, the front face 100 of the knee 102 of the conductor 104, as well as the front face 106 of the upper portion 108 of the tibia, are situated opposite the left lower part 38 of the dashboard 10, while the foot 110 is supported on a fixed portion 112 of the floor or on a pedal.

  In the event of an impact during an accident, the relative displacement of the lower part of the body of the passenger 104 to the intermediate position P1 in which the front faces 100 and 106 come into contact with the convex inner rear face 37 the lower part 38 of the skin 12 which is doubled by the protective plate 14.

  Then, the relative displacement and the impact cause the progressive deformation of the corresponding lateral part (14D or 14G) of the protection plate 14, to the "end of stroke" position P2.

  Each lower part of the leg thus benefits from optimum protection by absorbing energy and without encountering a rigid obstacle, the associated lateral part, 14D or 14G of the plate with the corresponding portion of the skin 12 behaving like a deformable "cloth" that absorbs energy by "gradually marrying the outer contour of the corresponding part of the leg.

  Of course, the average distance, in the transverse direction, between a lateral support element 24, 26 and the central support element 22 is greater than the average width of the lower part of a leg of the occupant so as to allow "penetration" of the leg in the corresponding area without striking the steering column or the corresponding lateral support.

  The set of absorption and behavior parameters of the plate 14 can be determined and modified according to its dimensions, its reinforcement-stiffening ribs, its positioning, etc. The invention is not limited to the protection of the driver's legs but can also be applied to the front passenger's legs by providing a central or intermediate flange in place of the steering column 22.

Claims (10)

  An arrangement for protecting the knees (100, 102) of a front occupant of a vehicle whose cockpit is equipped with a dashboard (10), the protection arrangement comprising an element (14) for energy absorption, by plastic deformation under the impact of the occupant's knees (100, 102) when the latter are moving generally longitudinally forward towards the lower part of the dashboard (10), when the vehicle is subjected to an impact, which: - extends transversely in the passenger compartment of the vehicle facing the knees (100, 102) and the upper part of the shins (106, 108) of the occupant (104 ); - is arranged longitudinally at a distance forward of the front surfaces (100, 106) of his knees (102) and the upper part of his shins (108); - Has a central portion (14C) rigidly supported by a vehicle element to prevent deformation of this central portion; and has two opposite lateral parts, left (14G) or right (14D), interconnected by the central portion (14C), each of which extends opposite a knee (102) and the upper part of the tibia (108) an associated leg, left or right, of the occupant (104) and each of which (14G, 14D) is rigidly supported by an element of the vehicle so as to constitute each a deformable portion of energy absorption characterized in that the absorption member is generally of a plate (14); in that the central portion (14C) of the absorption plate (14) is rigidly supported by a central support member (22) which extends in a vertical and longitudinal central plane; and in that each lateral, left (14G) or straight (14D) side of the absorption plate (14) is rigidly supported, in the vicinity of its lateral end remote from the central portion (14C), by a lateral element partner (24, 26) which extends in a vertical and longitudinal lateral plane so that each lateral portion, left (14G) or right (14D), is likely to deform substantially over its entire height.   2. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the central support element (22) is a portion of the steering column which equips the driving position of the vehicle.   3. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dashboard (10) comprises a horizontal upper cross member (18) to which are fixed the support elements (22, 24, 26) of the plate d absorption (14).   4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dashboard (10) comprises a skin (12), at least a portion of which extends opposite the lower part of the members to be protected, and the absorption plate (14) constitutes a lining of said portion (38) of the skin (12) of the dashboard (10).   5. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the absorption plate (14) forming a liner is assembled to said portion (38) of the skin (12) of the dashboard (10).   6. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption plate has a curved profile, of substantially horizontal transverse axis, with its convexity oriented towards the knees (100) of the occupant (104). ).   7. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption plate (14) is made by plastic molding.   8. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lateral support member (14G, 14D) is a metal flange which extends substantially in a longitudinal and vertical plane.   Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the average distance, in the transverse direction, between a lateral support element (24, 26) and the central support element (22) is greater than the average width of the lower part of an occupant's leg.   Motor vehicle dashboard (10) for an arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a skin (12) and in that the absorption plate (14) constitutes a lining at least a portion (38) of the skin (12) of the dashboard (10).